Project description DEENESFRITPL A new model for increased solar energy efficiency Solar photovoltaics (PVs) and sustainable fuel production from photocatalysis have emerged as alternative technologies to fossil fuels. However, these technologies need innovative methods to improve and increase their efficiency and keep their costs low. The EU-funded FENCES project will demonstrate an innovative mechanism relying on the phenomenon of the bulk PV effect in ferroelectrics. The mechanism will combine ferroelectrics and photoactive materials in nanocomposite thin films to increase solar energy efficiency. FENCES will design and synthesise optimal ferroelectric nanostructures and control their characteristics. The project will also develop precise device models to accurately explain and predict device behaviour and use these models to predict optimal materials. Show the project objective Hide the project objective Objective Solar photovoltaics (PVs) and sustainable fuel production from photocatalysis are key technologies to displacing fossil fuel use. However, in order to drive rapid growth in PVs, and the commercial viability of photocatalytic solar fuel production, innovative technological approaches are needed to increase efficiencies while keeping costs low.FENCES aims to demonstrate a new mechanism for solar energy conversion and use this to drive up the efficiencies of these key technologies. This will draw on a phenomenon found in ferroelectrics, known as the bulk photovoltaic (BPV) effect. While this has demonstrated photovoltages above the theoretical limit for conventional PVs, efficiency has remained low due to poor light absorption and charge transport. FENCES will overcome these limitations by intimately combining ferroelectrics and photoactive materials in nanocomposite thin films. This will couple the high electric field from the ferroelectric to the photoactive material, demonstrating novel behaviour with the potential to exceed the performance of current technologies.In order to achieve this, FENCES will:1. Design and synthesise optimal ferroelectric nanostructures and gain control over their properties, including the BPV effect, through careful study and tuning of the material properties in both precision model systems and low-cost, solution-based materials;2. Develop detailed device models to accurately describe and predict the behaviour of these novel devices, incorporating progressive knowledge and understanding throughout the project using both empirical data and computational modelling;3. Use these models to predict the optimum materials, structures and designs to demonstrate this novel technology and optimise device performance;4. Fabricate and test proof-of-concept devices based on these optimised designs to validate the models and prove the hypothesis, establishing a new frontier in solar energy generation and wider science. Fields of science natural scienceschemical sciencescatalysisphotocatalysisengineering and technologymaterials engineeringcoating and filmsengineering and technologymaterials engineeringnanocompositesengineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuelsenergy conversionengineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuelsrenewable energysolar energyphotovoltaic Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme Topic(s) ERC-2020-COG - ERC CONSOLIDATOR GRANTS Call for proposal ERC-2020-COG See other projects for this call Funding Scheme ERC-COG - Consolidator Grant Host institution QUEEN MARY UNIVERSITY OF LONDON Net EU contribution € 1 999 903,00 Address 327 MILE END ROAD E1 4NS London United Kingdom See on map Region London Inner London — East Tower Hamlets Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 1 999 903,00 Beneficiaries (1) Sort alphabetically Sort by Net EU contribution Expand all Collapse all QUEEN MARY UNIVERSITY OF LONDON United Kingdom Net EU contribution € 1 999 903,00 Address 327 MILE END ROAD E1 4NS London See on map Region London Inner London — East Tower Hamlets Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 1 999 903,00